By Jack Werk
The race to win the Freshman sire title this year is one of the most competitive I’ve seen in years, and mark my words, it’s going to go down to the wire to determine the winner. Currently sitting atop the 2010 Freshman Sire standings (Click here to view) is Hill ‘n’ Dale’s Roman Ruler, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus. Roman Ruler had a huge day – Oct. 10 — when his son Homeboykris won the G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park and his son Roman Invasion was 3rd in the G1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
Then, two days ago, first-time starter Connie and Michael became Roman Ruler’s 20th 2-year-old winner with a 7¾ length MSW victory at Keeneland. He’s doing so well, in fact, the he is not only leads all freshman sires in progeny earnings but he ranks second among ALL juvenile sires behind City Zip with a mere $1,985 separating them! It’s still early but Roman Ruler is making a case that he might be the real deal!
Roman Ruler was trained by Bob Baffert, who also trained his two half-brothers, G1 winner El Corredor and $4.6 million yearling Maimonides, who will stand at Vinery Florida for 2010.
Bob was always high on Roman Ruler, when he was racing, and considered him “the fastest 2-year-old”” he ever trained! In a recent conversation, he said the best word to describe Roman Ruler, a $500,000 yearling, was “brilliance,” and he said he had it from an early age. He describes the horse as “extremely athletic, great neck and shoulder.”
Roman Ruler won 5 of 10 starts. At 2, he broke his maiden in an incredible 57.27 for 5f and he won the G2 Best Pal Stakes by 7 lengths in 1:15.93 for 6 1/2 f! He also won the G2 Norfolk Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 4 lengths in 1:44.27. So as Bob said, he was a pretty “brilliant” racehorse at 2, so it’s not too surprising that he’s having a great run with his own 2-year-olds. Don’t forget, too, that he’s at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale – the farm that made Medaglia d’Oro and Candy Ride with their first crops!
I like the prospects for the Roman Ruler’s for next year, too, because the stallion also was a pretty good 3-year-old. Remember, he won the G1 Haskell and the G2 Dwyer at 9f, and he was 3rd in the G1 Travers at 10f – a race that was maybe just a little too far for him.
Roman Ruler’s sire, the Mr. Prospector stallion Fusaichi Pegasus, did win the G1 Kentucky Derby, but Roman Ruler’s dam, Silvery Swan, I think has exerted a major influence on him. She’s a daughter of Silver Deputy, a very good stallion who only raced at 2. And his sire, Deputy Minister, was a multiple G1 winner at 2, too!
Silver Deputy’s dam is a daughter of Mr. Prospector, so Roman Ruler has 2×4 inbreeding to one of the greatest stallions – and speed influences – of American breeding.
Silvery Swan’s first foal was El Corredor, who was a super miler. He won the G1 Cigar Mile at 3 and a total of 7 of 10 starts. Maimonides was G1-placed at 2 and was also a very fast colt who never realized his full potential, according to Bob, so this is quite a fast and precocious female family, just in the 1st dam! And the mare also produced the G3 winner Silver Tornado!
Now, there’s one other thing to consider about Roman Ruler. His half-brother El Corredor (by Mr. Greeley, who’s a Mr. Prospector-line stallion, too) is the sire of 4 G1 winners from his first three crops and is a very legitimate young sire!
With all these connections behind him, I’ve got to like Roman Ruler’s chances to stay at or near the top of the freshman sire list, and beyond!